I have a 2000 SP 500. I am concerned with rapid brake wear. I have a freind that rides a SP 335 and he has went through 2 sets of pads already and his machine is only two months old. My brother in-law has also burnt through his pads all the way down to the brake calipers piston. I am just curious to know if anyone else is haveing a problem with brake wear.

 

Hey Mad same here I have over 800 miles on mine and it isn't looking good I am going to see if my dealer will go for just paying some on some ebc pads that Polaris sells...they should put the ebc pads on to start with...

 

If you do not have EBS (engine braking system) then 800 miles is pretty good. I have EBS and I get around 1000 miles before I need to replace the pads. If you ride lots of mud and sandy water the pads will wear even without the brakes being used. This is because they are always in contact with the rotor and when you introduce some kind of grinding compound like mud wear will take place.
Hope this is of some help.

 

Just turned 2400 miles on my 2000 SP 500 and dealer says I need brakes bad. Anyone ever notice a "clicking" sound coming from the rear axle area, possible the brakes?

 

Yeah the trick is to not use them until you need them and keep them clean NO MATTER WHAT and also dont ride with the parking brake on. Put the brake on gradually dont slam them

 

800 miles so far on my 2000 SP and no problems with the brakes, keep them clean, is the best way.
I imagine with no EBS they would wear terribly fast, but all 500 SP's come with EBS right?

 

well i only have 200+ miles one mine but i hardly ever use the breaks.....sometimes the EBS bugs me when i have to do something with my right hand while riding becasue as soon as i let off the throttle i come to a stop in a few seconds


Chris

 

I have a 98 SPortsman 500 with EBS and I got 1500 miles on my pads. I don't think it's that bad. What I did do is when I bought the machine, I asked the dealer to install Moose brake pads. I think that had a lot to do with it.

 

When i bought my SP as stupid as this sounds ,which it is, i did not even know it had EBS standard. i was driving it home and let off the gas and was like wow! I looked down and saw EBS on the belt cover! I just assumed it was an option like the other models. it works really good!

 

Swac1

If you are hearing a clicking in the rearend of your Sportsman lube the universal joints immediately. The brakes do not click, but the drive train does.

RE: Brakes

Traildog is absolutely correct. The amount of pad life that you will experience is directly proportional to the amount of mud that your discs will be immersed in.

In seriously muddy riding conditions, I have seen Wolverines and Polarii wear out a new set of pads in one weekend.

There is something to be said for drum brakes regarding these conditions. We had a King Quad and a 450s and a 450ES and never changed linings on those three quads.

Drum brakes hold up better in mud in this riders experience. (Don't jump on me too fast Bill C.)
The King Quad had over 2400 miles of Everglades under its belt.